It is a challenge made up of 98 floors and 1504 steps as three of the city’s firefighters go the extra vertical mile for a cause hitting far too close to their Griffith homes.
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October will see Chris Evans, Matt Carroll and Aaron Hoad climb the stairs at the Sydney Tower Eye wearing their full firefighting gear and carrying their 30 kg breathing apparatuses – all to raise money for motor-neurone disease(MND) research.
A disease both cruel and fatal MND affects one in every 14,000 Australians, with the progressive and degenerative disease weakening the muscles that allow its victims to breathe, swallow and move until they can no longer do any of those things.
Those who are diagnosed with MND usually don’t live for more than two years.
Even more alarming are experts’ claims the rate of the disease in Griffith is 10 times higher than the national average.
With all of this in mind the climb was an easy cause to get behind for all three of the volunteers with money raised going towards the nation’s largest MND research facility at Macquarie University.
“I’ve had a couple of friends who have passed away from the disease, I have a friend who has it and it is just a devastating and debilitating disease and something I certainly wouldn’t want to have,” Mr Evans said on Friday.
“You can be as fit as anyone and it can take hold of you and it’s quick – any charity trying to raise money for such a big issue has my support.”
It will be fellow climber Matt Carroll’s second shot at tackling the tower after he raised money for the cause in 2016, an effort leaving him well aware of the physical demands the climb will present.
“Straight up it is exhausting, but it is rewarding because it is for such a good cause,” he explained.
“Any money we can raise to go towards going towards finding a cure for MND is crucial,” he said.
Last year Mr Carroll made the climb in just 21 minutes – a time he will be looking to come in under in his second attempt.
With an all time record of 11 minutes to take on the 1504 stairs certainly an impressive feat Mr Evans said he would be looking to just finish before anything else.
“If I can do it in half an hour I will be happy,” he laughed.
Last year ‘Fire fighters climb for motor neurone disease’ raised $700,000 – a number the 2017 effort is looking to beat with a target total of $1 million.
With this in mind Griffith’s brave firefighters have asked the city to please show their support and get behind their efforts to help find a cure for a disease that devastates too many locals.
If you would like to donate you can do so here.
